DoJ delays web‑access deadline; Commission recommends town adopt digital accessibility policy

At the May 15 meeting the Commission heard an ADA Title II update from Eric, who said the Department of Justice delayed deadlines for updating digital content. Eric said the town — with a population under 50,000 — now has until April 2028 to meet accessibility standards for digital content, but he urged continuing work rather than pausing.

“We’ve actually been bumped back … we subsequently get an additional year to April 2028,” Eric said, describing the DOJ timing shift. He recommended the town adopt a digital accessibility policy that sets expectations for how digital content is created and maintained and suggested role‑specific staff trainings.

Eric offered to draft a policy template, said state resources and municipal networks (office hours from a state access team) are available, and proposed the town administrator’s office coordinate the work with IT and contracted vendors.

The Commission asked who should deliver staff training; Eric said he could participate and pointed to state resources and vendor office hours. Commissioners agreed to move forward: Eric will track down templates and Diane will help collect resources and schedule trainings. The Commission also discussed tying policy objectives to the town administrator’s performance goals.